I am a bit confused with basic terms of masts technology What is high carbon content good for? Does it mean the mast is stronger, more durable but breaks easily? Or is it the other way round?

Kenny as carbon is a stiff material if you bend it then let it go it will spring back into place quickly. So the more carbon you have in a mast the quicker it will spring back after a gust hits it, into the tensioned shape that you have set it at when you have rigged your sail. Therefore your sail will feel and be more responsive which will also equal more speed. It is also a light material for its strength as compared to just ordinary fibre glass.

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Originally posted by Kenny

is it true the more carbon in a mast the more fragile mast is? Therefore more easily it snaps e.g. in a crash or when hit by the wave?

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Sorry, thought I'd made that clear.

NO
Unless it's an old style with fiberglass mast type diameter, then the wall can become too thin!!!

The first carbon masts only had a few carbon fibres thrown in to stiffen them up, trouble with this was, carbon being a zillion times stiffer than glass, took all the strain, as there wasn't very much of it, it let go. that creates a pressure point for the glass which also snapped. So they then increased the amount of carbon, but had to reduce wall thicknes to stop mast being too stiff, that also lead to many failures, cause the walls just crushed.
Now with 100% carbon lengthwise, (all the fibres take all the load), and thick walls that don't crush, a high content carbon mast (70% - 80%) is the strongest most durable option.